TLDR
- Du Plessis is a -230 favorite over Usman (+190) in Saturday’s UFC Oklahoma City main event
- Du Plessis returns after 11 months off to improve wrestling following loss to Khamzat Chimaev
- Usman, 39, moves to middleweight with full training camp after previous short-notice attempt
- Both fighters have beaten current middleweight champion Sean Strickland during their careers
- The fight airs Saturday at 8 p.m. ET on Paramount+ from the Paycom Center in Oklahoma City
Sources: sports.yahoo.com | cbssports.com | bettingnews.com
Former UFC champions Dricus Du Plessis and Kamaru Usman will meet Saturday night in the main event of UFC Fight Night at the Paycom Center in Oklahoma City. The bout puts a potential middleweight title shot on the line for both fighters.
Du Plessis enters as the betting favorite at -230, while Usman sits as the underdog at +190. The 32-year-old Du Plessis returns after an 11-month layoff following his title loss to Khamzat Chimaev in September 2025.
In that fight, Du Plessis gave up 12 takedowns and spent 22 minutes under Chimaev’s control. He used the extended time away to improve his wrestling skills and address weaknesses exposed in the loss.
Usman Tests Middleweight Waters Again
Usman, now 39 years old, competed at middleweight once before in his UFC career. He took a short-notice fight against Chimaev three years ago on just one week of preparation, losing by majority decision.
This time, Usman has had a full training camp to prepare for the weight class. He told CBS Sports he learned important lessons about energy management from his first middleweight experience.
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“I was still kind of trying to operate on that type of efficiency,” Usman said about his first middleweight bout. “Next thing you know, it’s two and a half rounds in, and it feels like Round 1 to me.”
Usman holds a 21-4 career record and is widely considered one of the greatest welterweight champions in UFC history. He defended the welterweight title five times before losing it to Leon Edwards via head kick knockout in 2022.
Du Plessis sports a 23-3 record and remains unfinished in 10 UFC fights. He has beaten current middleweight champion Sean Strickland twice during his career.
Physical Advantages and Fighting Styles
Du Plessis holds a seven-year age advantage and has spent his entire UFC career at middleweight. Both fighters stand close in height and share identical 76-inch reaches.
Du Plessis believes his size and strength will neutralize Usman’s wrestling. “I’m a much bigger guy, and in the striking department, there is no doubt in my mind that I’m better than Usman,” Du Plessis told CBS Sports.
Betting markets heavily favor the fight going the distance. The over 3.5 rounds sits at -210, reflecting both fighters’ durability records.
Usman has been finished only once since 2013 across 25 fights. Du Plessis has gone the distance in three of his last four bouts.
Du Plessis holds a 10-0 UFC record when fighting opponents older than him. He has collected nine knockout victories and one submission win during his career.
Usman has won 52 percent of his career victories by decision. His wrestling pedigree nearly upset Chimaev despite the short preparation time in their 2023 meeting.
The co-main event features Christian Leroy Duncan facing Jared Cannonier in a middleweight bout. Duncan is a -360 favorite over the 44-year-old Cannonier, who once challenged for the middleweight title.
The main card begins at 8 p.m. ET on Paramount+. The preliminary card starts at 5 p.m. ET, also streaming on Paramount+.
